What does an incident response plan primarily aim to achieve?

An incident response plan primarily aims to respond quickly and effectively to incidents. This is essential because the primary goal of such a plan is to ensure that organizations can manage and mitigate the effects of security breaches or other incidents as they occur. A well-structured incident response plan provides a clear framework for identifying, assessing, and responding to incidents, ultimately minimizing damage, ensuring rapid recovery, and protecting critical assets.

In the context of incident response, it’s vital to act swiftly to control the situation, gather relevant information, and execute predefined procedures that guide the response team. The process encompasses the steps of preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident review, all designed to maintain operational integrity and reduce the risk of future occurrences. Hence, the focus is on a proactive and efficient response rather than merely seeking to prevent incidents or evaluate performance in a different context.